JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Texas -- Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide said he will miss space as he prepares to return to the Earth.

"We are returning to the Earth in several days, and I will miss space. I'd like to enjoy my last days in space by doing such things as looking at Japan, which I haven't seen from space yet," Hoshide said during a press conference at the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday (Tuesday, Japanese time).

Hoshide, 39, was among 10 astronauts who attended the press conference inside Japan's Kibo laboratory at the ISS, whose image was transmitted to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas.

The astronauts had virtually completed their mission by Monday, and Hoshide and six other Space Shuttle crewmembers are slated to return to Earth on Saturday morning (Sunday morning, Japanese time).

Speaking about his first space flight, Hoshide said, "When the Space Shuttle's engine stopped, I felt my body floating. That was the moment I realized that I've really come to space."

"I hope that what we develop inside the Kibo laboratory and the way we do not leave garbage in space will help solve environmental problems on Earth," Hoshide said.

He also emphasized how beautiful the Earth looks when seen from the window of the Kibo laboratory.

After the press conference, the 10 crewmembers took photos together and celebrated the completion of their mission almost on schedule.

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